Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 48

Introduction

Ezekiel 48:0

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Judah to the north and Benjamin to the south are closest to the central sanctuary. The “prince” has the land to the east and west of it.

B. The tribal divisions are unrelated to the divisions found in Joshua 12-23.

C. The children of Jacob's wives' servants are farthest from the sanctuary.

D. Ezekiel describes the gates of the city of Jerusalem and how they relate to specific tribes. John, in Revelation 21:0, draws on this imagery.

E. The imagery denotes a complete new covenant start. Jacob's descendants are to begin again!

Verses 1-7

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:1-7 1”Now these are the names of the tribes: from the northern extremity, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath, running from east to west, Dan, one portion. 2Beside the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion. 3Beside the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side, Naphtali, one portion. 4Beside the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion. 5Beside the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion. 6Beside the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side, Reuben, one portion. 7Beside the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion.”

Verses 8-14

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:8-14 8”And beside the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the allotment which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits in width, and in length like one of the portions, from the east side to the west side; and the sanctuary shall be in the middle of it. 9The allotment that you shall set apart to the Lord shall be 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in width. 10The holy allotment shall be for these, namely for the priests, toward the north 25,000 cubits in length, toward the west 10,000 in width, toward the east 10,000 in width, and toward the south 25, 000 in length; and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in its midst. 11It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept My charge, who did not go astray when the sons of Israel went astray as the Levites went astray. 12It shall be an allotment to them from the allotment of the land, a most holy place, by the border of the Levites. 13Alongside the border of the priests the Levites shall have 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in width. The whole length shall be 25,000 cubits and the width 10,000. 14Moreover, they shall not sell or exchange any of it, or alienate this choice portion of land; for it is holy to the Lord.”

Verses 15-20

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:15-20 15”The remainder, 5,000 cubits in width and 25,000 in length, shall be for common use for the city, for dwellings and for open spaces; and the city shall be in its midst. 16These shall be its measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. 17The city shall have open spaces: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250 cubits, on the east 250 cubits, and on the west 250 cubits. 18The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be 10,000 cubits toward the east and 10,000 toward the west; and it shall be alongside the holy allotment. And its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19The workers of the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it. 20The whole allotment shall be 25,000 by 25,000 cubits; you shall set apart the holy allotment, a square, with the property of the city.”

Verses 21-22

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:21-22 21”The remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy allotment and of the property of the city; in front of the 25,000 cubits of the allotment toward the east border and westward in front of the 25,000 toward the west border, alongside the portions, it shall be for the prince. And the holy allotment and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle of it. 22Exclusive of the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the middle of that which belongs to the prince, everything between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall be for the prince.”

Verses 23-29

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:23-29 23”As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion. 24Beside the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion. 25Beside the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion. 26Beside the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion. 27Beside the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion. 28And beside the border of Gad, at the south side toward the south, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the Great Sea. 29This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for an inheritance, and these are their several portions,” declares the Lord God.

Verses 30-35

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezekiel 48:30-35 30”These are the exits of the city: on the north side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, 31shall be the gates of the city, named for the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. 32On the east side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one. 33On the south side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. 34On the west side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one. 35The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The Lord is there.'“

Ezekiel 48:35 “The Lord is there” This reflects the covenant promise of YHWH's personal presence with His people. The same concept is expressed by the name “Emmanuel” (God is with us).

The exile is over! YHWH has returned!